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Architecture and Ideology

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108<br />

JELENA ŽIVKOVIĆ, Assistant Professor<br />

Faculty of <strong>Architecture</strong> University of Belgrade, j_zivkovic@ptt.rs<br />

KSENIJA LALOVIĆ, Assistant Professor<br />

Faculty of <strong>Architecture</strong> University of Belgrade, ksenija.lalovic@gmail.com<br />

ZORAN ĐUKANOVIĆ, Assistant Professor<br />

Faculty of <strong>Architecture</strong> University of Belgrade, duke@arh.bg.ac.rs<br />

ECOLOGY IN PUBLIC OPEN SPACE PLANNING AND DESIGN<br />

SCIENCE, PHILOSOPHY OR IDEOLOGY?<br />

Abstract |<br />

Today, at the beginning of the 21st century, ecology is not "only" a science or a rationale for<br />

"green" philosophies <strong>and</strong> political actions. Due to global recognition of environmental crisis,<br />

<strong>and</strong> the role that cities play in it, ecologically sound urban development became<br />

institutionalized. "Ecology" becomes a buzzword for urban development <strong>and</strong> "re‐imaging" the<br />

cities in competition for new inhabitants <strong>and</strong> investments. It starts to be interpreted as a new<br />

planning <strong>and</strong> design ideology.<br />

Being a place where urban <strong>and</strong> natural systems meet <strong>and</strong> interact, public open spaces are<br />

important both as a reflection of environmental problems <strong>and</strong> as a part of their solution.<br />

Besides their ecological importance, public open spaces have various roles in urban life <strong>and</strong> are<br />

constituents of urban identity. As well, as a social scene, they are places of special importance<br />

for the social <strong>and</strong> cultural interaction <strong>and</strong> integration. This multifaceted nature of public space<br />

keeps open the debate on the quality of public space, <strong>and</strong> the role that ecology should play it<br />

their planning <strong>and</strong> design.<br />

This paper aims to contribute to the debate by using case study methodology to explore the<br />

ways in which ecology conceptually relates to public open space planning <strong>and</strong> design <strong>and</strong> by<br />

critically evaluating material consequences of this relations. We argue that the way the<br />

meaning <strong>and</strong> content of ecology is conceptualized, shapes the way it is integrated in planning<br />

<strong>and</strong> design theory, which consequently, shape our urban environment. Since ecology as a<br />

science evolves over time, it is important to keep its relation to planning <strong>and</strong> design open for<br />

new interpretations. Therefore, ecology should not be integrated to public space planning <strong>and</strong><br />

design as a "solution" but as a way of approaching public space quality problems. Interpreted in<br />

that way, integration of ecology to planning <strong>and</strong> design theory opens up the space for creative<br />

practice.<br />

Key words |<br />

public open space, ecology, science, philosophy, ideology

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